Putting human faces on line items
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Erickson…
With no end in sight to an impasse that has left state government in limbo, Democrats spent Tuesday shining a spotlight on plans by Gov. Bruce Rauner to reduce the number of senior citizens who receive state assistance.
Just as their counterparts in the House have tried to paint the Republican chief executive as a threat to the poor and middle class, Senate Democrats held press conferences and conducted a formal hearing Tuesday on Rauner’s plan to alter a ranking system that determines who gets government help and who doesn’t.
The governor has proposed changing the rankings in order to take aid away from thousands of seniors and disabled Illinoisans.
While Rauner says his administration needs to find savings because of a decrease in revenue after the expiration of the state’s temporary tax increase in January, Democrats said the impact will be devastating.
* Finke…
Mary Schnell of Springfield said the proposed changes would leave her and her husband, John, without services. John Schnell suffers from dementia, and twice a week he attends day care services outside the home paid by the state. Also, the Schnells get four hours a week of in-home services to help with work around the house and to take them grocery shopping and to do other tasks outside the home.
“It’s just been a godsend for us,” Mary Schnell said. “It’s getting to the point that without help, I can’t do it.”
The administration said the determination-of-need scoring system hasn’t been changed in 30 years and that Illinois provides services to a lot of “low need” people.
* Sun-Times…
“Presumably as part of the governor’s budget proposal it’s intended to save the state money,” Cheryl Jansen, public policy director for Equip for Equality told senators. “But it’s been shown again and again, and you’ve heard testimony here today, and the state has provided statistics that show that serving people with disabilities in their own homes, in their own communities — rather than institutions — saves money. In the long term, this change will not only cost the state money, it will deprive the individuals served by this program of their independence, of their dignity and of their improved quality of life.”
* Sen. Daniel Biss sent out a press release yesterday explaining the impact of changing the scores…
Substantial and detrimental changes to state-provided in-home or long-term care may be on the way under a new plan proposed by the governor. If it is enacted, nearly 40,000 seniors enrolled in the Community Care Program alone will be forced out of their homes and into nursing home facilities.
To decide whether or not a person is eligible to receive services, such as a home health aide or admission to a nursing home, state agencies use a Determination of Need (DON) score. It’s a tool designed to assess the level and type of need in order to provide the best and most efficient care to older adults and persons with disabilities.
The governor has proposed raising the threshold citizens would need in order to receive care from state programs. With these changes in place, the minimum score to qualify for assistance would increase from 37 from 29. Many people who rely on these services to live and provide for their families are fearing for the future and the future of their families. […]
People already receiving home services with scores between 29 and 37 would lose the services they rely on to get from one day to the next. And in most cases, the cost to the state is significantly lower than if the state were to provide nursing home services, often the only alternative.
“The governor is cutting much more than hypothetical dollars from the budget with this plan,” said State Senator Daniel Biss (D – Evanston), chair of the Human Services Committee, who led a hearing on in-home care on Tuesday. “He is cutting a lifeline for thousands of seniors and disabled Illinoisans who rely on state government to ensure their health and safety. If we raise the threshold for assistance, we lower our standards as a state at a time when we need to find our moral center more than ever. Taking away these services would also increase the cost to the state. This is a lose-lose situation.”
The governor is planning on asking the federal government for a special waiver that would allow Illinois to change Medicaid rules for determination of need. Biss is imploring the governor to first look into the human impact of a possible rule change before making any decision on this issue.
“Instead of blindly grabbing for any means to save dollars and cents, we need to take a hard look at the people we’re casting aside,” said Biss. “These citizens are not a financial inconvenience to be stripped from the books. They are in need of services, and it’s in everyone’s best interest to provide that care in the most effective way possible.”
* Meanwhile, Mark Brown looks at the child care program…
Under cost-cutting measures imposed by Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration effective July 1, the state’s child care assistance program has been effectively closed to nearly all new enrollees.
According to advocates, in just the first two weeks more than 2,000 families who would have qualified under previous eligibility guidelines have already been denied access to the program.
These are families who rely on the child care subsidy to make it economically feasible to go to work so that someday they might escape poverty.
A family of four earning $12,132 a year will now make too much money to qualify for the subsidy, a dramatic drop from the previous income ceiling of $44,868.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:09 am:
The Rauner Cuts…
“… the Rauner Administration…”, “… Gov. Rauner …”, “… the Governor …”, “… Rauner Administrstion spokesman …”
Seeing a pattern yet?
- downstate commissioner - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:11 am:
“Rauner” (see hot temps thread)
- Just Saying .... - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:12 am:
Dems needed to do this earlier this Spring. It took them months back in the 90s to protray Gov. Edgar as “Edgar Scissorhands.” We clearly don’t have the luxury of time now. Dems should have been building this case for months.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:15 am:
What scoring system was in place for that $100 million in handouts to EBay, Capital One, et. al. back in April?
Just how wildly profitable do you have to be to score corporate welfare? Because all of those recipients were flush.
- Century Club - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:20 am:
It’s not just hurting people who depend on vital services, the Rauner shutdown is also costing the state jobs.
From the Mark Brown article: “Erie Neighborhood House…is looking at as many as 10 staff layoffs because of state funding issues.” and “A couple of downstate social service providers have had to close their doors”
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:27 am:
“A family of four earning $12,132 a year will now make too much money to qualify for the subsidy”
Wow - think about that people. Think how little you can buy for $12,132/year. Then imagine trying to raise a family on that (it’s well below the poverty line) yet our state now deems those families too “rich” for assistance. Cruel. Just downright cruel.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:30 am:
A government that turns its back to those in need isn’t a government for all. We are either united in life as citizens, or divided as consumers. Market-based government only works when everyone has bottomless wallets and endless health.
Sure it is optimistic to believe that people will magically find solutions somewhere other than our governments, but optimism isn’t realistic.
If you think life is tough now, just imagine how much tougher it will be in a world with a government ran by people who believe that bad things only happen to people for reasons they caused themselves.
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:33 am:
Rauner, Rauner, Rauner.
- CharlieKratos - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:37 am:
Yep. Those people making around $250 a week should be absolutely flush with cash. /s
Perhaps the Governor doesn’t recognize sums of money that don’t end in “illion”?
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:41 am:
“A family of four earning $12,132 a year will now make too much money to qualify for the subsidy”
The DHS rules which make these changes state that in case there are not sufficient appropriations to fully fund the program and enrollment must be limited, priority will be given to the following groups: 1. TANF recipients; 2. Teen parents enrolled in school full-time and working toward a high school diploma or GED; 3. Families with special needs children; 4. Working families with incomes not exceeding 50% of the federal poverty level for their family size. The hypothetical family of 4 mentioned above would just barely miss category #4.
- Out Here In The Middle - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:41 am:
“A family of four earning $12,132 a year will now make too much money to qualify for the subsidy”
Seriously? Would one of the Governor’s ardent supporters please explain how this makes sense? And if your answer is “we just can’t afford it” then explain to me what kind of society you plan for us to live in.
- Thoughts Matter - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:45 am:
Glad to see these types of illustrations. These are the types of people that are trying to be independent to the best of their ability. Lets help them - otherwise they will stop trying at all.
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:51 am:
The regular eligibility threshold for a family of 4 as outlined in this rule is $3,739/mo or $44,868/yr (their co-payment would be $380/mo) The “normal” eligibility threshholds in effect when DHS has sufficient funding for the program have NOT changed, though the co-payments have increased. The 50% of FPL cap is not intended to be permanent but appears to be an emergency measure only — which is, of course, no consolation to the families who can’t get this assistance.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:06 am:
These are the types of people that are trying to be independent to the best of their ability. Lets help them - otherwise they will stop trying at all.
Darwin would approve. Throw them all into the Coliseum and see which ones are strong enough to survive! Beating them is what they need to become stronger!
- Bulldog58 - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:10 am:
—The governor has proposed changing the rankings in order to take aid away from thousands of seniors—
Shouldn’t be long now before Rauner’s past with nursing home problems prior to being elected pops up to drive home someones point.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:32 am:
Maybe some of Rauner’s buddies are still in the nursing home business. This action by Rauner will increase their business from the state.
- late to the party - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 11:37 am:
So the governor is cutting these programs because there is a lack of a budget and revenue, but suing to pay state employees (and legislators) at FY15 levels?
- MAMA - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:38 pm:
“A family of four earning $12,132 a year will now make too much money to qualify for the subsidy”
What makes the superstars think that a family of 4 can survive on $12,132 a year?
- Bulldog58 - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:41 pm:
“What makes the superstars think that a family of 4 can survive on $12,132 a year?”
What makes you think we care if a family of 4 can survive on $12,132 a year.
With Best regards,
The Superstars
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:50 pm:
VM at 11:06-
Darwin would not agree, I believe.
See the first paragraph in this JAMA article:
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=185330
Also:
https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/darwin-human-nature
“Although Darwinism is still often used to justify competition in human societies, in fact Darwin challenged the primacy of self-interest and gave a new foundation to traditional virtues such as compassion, sympathy, and love. He rooted ethics in animal instincts, but argued that such instincts are modified and strengthened in human societies through the power of natural selection, through our experience of approbation and shame, and through the influence of education and religion. In the Descent of Man, Darwin argued that the golden rule – “do unto others as you would be done by” – could be explained by a scientific, evolutionary, understanding of the development of human behaviour. The irony of this was not lost on him: about this passage he wrote to his daughter Henrietta, “I fear parts are too like a Sermon. Who would ever have thought that I should turn parson?” “
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 12:53 pm:
Darwin would not agree, I believe.
Yeah, but it was fun to throw his name out there at someone who probably doesn’t like to be compared to him.
- howard - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 1:30 pm:
Biss is concerned about the health care of old people? Is this the same guy that tried to use pension reform to strip retirees of their pensions/benefits? At least Rauner isn’t a flip flopper.
- Who else... - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 2:01 pm:
Really? No one is going to jump on that “At least Rauner isn’t a flip flopper” bit from “howard?”
- DuPage Grandma - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 10:13 pm:
Rauner’s Feb proposed budget did not cut funding for the Dept of Aging, however it did divert considerable funding from the Community Care Program to what appeared to be a program overseeing convalescent homes. It is a shame because the Community Care Program is less expensive to the state and supported by our seniors. Of course the Community Care Program has hardly been a boon for convalescent homes.
- Lynn S, - Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 12:50 am:
And what is the status of the Governor’s trust for investments? I thought he got into trouble at the start of his term because it wasn’t as blind as it’s supposed to be. Has GTCR or any other of BVR’s investment vehicles bought stock in nursing homes, or have they bought the nursing home outright? That might explain the Gov’s eagerness to push grandma and grandpa out of their home and into a nursing home. Gotta keep those beds filled! Don’t get Medicaid/Medicare $$$$ if they are empty!!
- Former Hoosier - Thursday, Jul 16, 15 @ 7:52 am:
What about the “compassion” Gov. Rauner said he would bring to his administration? No compassionate person could make the type of draconian cuts to human services that he is making. I would call Gov. Rauner’s lack of compassion the mother of all flip flops!